Cambridge Studies in Law and Society: Diversity in Practice: Race, Gender, and Class in Legal and Professional Careers

Expressions of support for diversity are nearly ubiquitous among contemporary law firms and corporations. Organizations back these rhetorical commitments with dedicated diversity staff and various diversity and inclusion initiatives. Yet, the goal of proportionate representation for people of color and women remains unrealized. Members of historically underrepresented groups remain seriously disadvantaged in professional training and work environments that white, upper-class men continue to dominate. While many professional labor markets manifest patterns of demographic inequality, these patterns are particularly pronounced in the law and elite segments of many professions. Diversity in Practice analyzes the disconnect between expressed commitments to diversity and practical achievements, revealing the often obscure systemic causes that drive persistent professional inequalities. These original contributions build on existing literature and forge new paths in explaining enduring patterns of stratification in professional careers. These more realistic assessments provide opportunities to move beyond mere rhetoric to something approaching diversity in practice.

1. Introduction Spencer Headworth and Robert L. Nelson; Part I. Rhetoric and Realities: 2. The action after the call: what general counsels say about the value of diversity in legal purchasing decisions in the years following the 'Call to Action' David B. Wilkins and Young-Kyu Kim; 3. Diversity and talent at the top: lessons from the boardroom Kimberly D. Krawiec, John M. Conley and Lissa L. Broome; 4. Explaining social exclusion and the 'war for talent' in the UK's elite professional service firms Louise Ashley and Laura Empson; Part II. Entering Professional Careers: Barriers, Ladders, and Basement Doors: 5. Typecast socialization: race, gender, and competing expectations in law school Yung-Yi Diana Pan; 6. Rethinking the intersectionality of race, gender, and class identity: educating underrepresented minority women for elite careers in science, technology, math, and engineering Carroll Seron; 7. Access to a career in the legal profession in England and Wales: race, class, and the role of educational background Lisa Webley, Jennifer Tomlinson, Daniel Muzio, Hilary Sommerlad and Liz Duff; 8. The new 'professionalism' in England and Wales: talent, diversity, and a legal precariat Hilary Sommerlad; Part III. Inequality and Opportunity in the Careers of Diverse Attorneys: 9. Which kinds of law firms have the most minority lawyers? Organizational context and the representation of African-Americans, Latinos, and Asian-Americans Fiona M. Kay and Elizabeth H. Gorman; 10. Gendered pathways: choice, constraint, and women's job movements in the legal profession Juliet R. Aiken and Milton C. Regan, Jr; 11. The effectiveness of inheritance vs rainmaking strategies in building books of business for female and minority partners Forrest Briscoe and Andrew von Nordenflycht; 12. Career mobility and racial diversity in law firms Christopher I. Rider, Adina D. Sterling and David Tan; 13. Immigrant offspring in the legal profession: exploring the effects of immigrant status on earnings among American lawyers Meghan Dawe and Ronit Dinovitzer.